Sarah (Wardle ’08) Jones

Music

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

My most valuable experience was making life-long friends with a group of women from 4th Bergwall. Despite living all over the country and world, we still get together nearly every summer and our group chat is going strong. I also appreciate Taylor's liberal arts education and academic rigor--I felt more than prepared to succeed at graduate school and beyond. Lastly, Taylor was a safe place for me to explore, learn, and grow. I could not have asked for a better starting place.

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

There are many ways through a career in classical music. Often, performers will need multiple income streams in order to establish a sustainable and fulfilling career. This means wearing a lot of hats, having a diverse skill set, and a flexible mindset. I think the liberal arts education at Taylor sets graduates up well in this regard.

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

My general education and major requirement classes worked together to broaden my mental framework. The courses in my major were comprehensive and helped me understand the larger context to flute performance. I had plenty of performance experience in ensembles, performance class, and studio class and learned great standard repertoire in my applied lessons. I STRUGGLED in sight-singing and ear training and music theory was challenging, but those skills turned out to be very helpful in my first job!

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

I think everyone's path is probably a little different so giving advice feels tough. But here are some things I would tell my undergraduate self: First, find out your "why" in pursuing your career path. Your reason may change over time, but keeping the bigger picture in mind when things get tough can help. Secondly, perform often and if you can't find opportunities, try creating them! Be brave and take risks; you don't need permission to be an artist. Finally, a career is a marathon and not a sprint. A career in music may take many forms over the course of your lifetime--it's normal. Don't sweat it, view unexpected twists and turns as adventures.